Proverbs 17
1 It is better [to eat] a dry piece [of bread] and not have strife/quarrels than to have a big feast in a house where [everyone] is quarreling.
Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife.
2 A slave who acts wisely will [some day] be the boss of his master’s disgraceful son and when his master dies, the slave will receive part of his master’s possessions.
A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren.
3 [Workers put] silver and gold in a very hot furnace [to burn out what is impure], and Yahweh [similarly] examines people’s inner beings [to see if they are pure].
As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.
4 Those who do what is evil pay attention to people who say [MTY] what is evil, and liars pay attention to [other people’s] lies.
The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.
5 Those who make fun of poor [people] insult God, the one who made the poor [people], [and] those who are happy when [someone else has] troubles will certainly be punished [LIT] [by God].
He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker; and he that rejoiceth at another man’s ruin, shall not be unpunished.
6 Old [people] are [usually] proud of [MET] their grandchildren, [just like] children are [usually] proud of their parents.
Children’s children are the crown of old men: and the glory of children are their fathers.
7 Fine/Eloquent speech is not suitable for foolish people to say, just like lies are not suitable for rulers [to say].
Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.
8 People think that a bribe is like a magic stone [to persuade someone to do what they want him to do]; they think that because of the bribe, that person will do whatever they want him to do.
The expectation of him that expecteth, is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.
9 If you want people to like/love you, forgive them for the wrong things that they do to you. If you continue to remind them about those wrong things, they will no longer be your friends.
He that concealeth a transgression. seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.
10 Rebuking people who have good sense will accomplish more for them than hitting them 100 times [with a stick].
A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
11 [Because] wicked people are always trying to cause trouble, someone will be sent to severely punish them.
An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.
12 A mother bear whose cubs have been taken away from her is dangerous, but it is more dangerous to confront a foolish person who is doing something foolish.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.
13 If someone does something evil in return for something good being done to him, evil/trouble will never leave that person’s family.
He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Starting a quarrel is like allowing water to start to leak out of a dam; they both need to be stopped before they get worse.
The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: before he suffereth reproach he forsaketh judgment.
15 There are two things that Yahweh hates: (Condemning innocent [people]/Saying that people who have done nothing wrong must be punished), and declaring that people who have done wicked things should not be punished.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.
16 It is useless to allow foolish people [RHQ] to try to become wise by paying for it, because they do not have enough good sense to become wise.
What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.
17 Friends love [others] all the time, and relatives are able to help us when we have troubles.
He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.
18 [If someone borrows money from another person], it is foolish for you to promise [IDM] that you will pay the money back if that other person is unable to pay back the money that he borrowed.
A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend.
19 Those who like to sin [also] like to cause strife/trouble; [and] those who build fancy doors in their houses [to show that they are very wealthy] (OR, speak proudly) are inviting disaster.
He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin.
20 Those who (have perverse minds/are always thinking about doing evil things) will not prosper, and disasters will happen to those who always tell lies.
He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil.
21 Children who are foolish [soon] cause their parents to be very sad; their parents will not be joyful at all.
A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.
22 Being cheerful is [like swallowing] good medicine; being discouraged/gloomy [all the time will] (drain away your energy/cause you to become weak) [MTY].
A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Wicked people/judges accept bribes that are given to them secretly, and as a result they do not decide matters justly/fairly.
The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
24 Those who have good sense determine to do what is wise, but foolish people are always thinking about many different things [and never decide what they should do].
Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in the ends of the earth.
25 Children who are foolish cause their father to be sad and [also] cause their mother to be very sorrowful.
A foolish son is the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bore him.
26 It is not right to force someone who has done nothing wrong to pay a fine; it is wrong to punish good/respected people.
It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the prince, who judgeth right.
27 Those who have good sense do not talk a lot, and those who (control their tempers/keep themselves from becoming very angry) are [truly] wise.
He that setteth bounds to his words. is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious spirit.
28 People [may] think that foolish people who do not say anything are wise; if foolish people (do not say anything/keep their mouths shut), others will think that they are [very] intelligent.
Even a fool, if he will hold his peace shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.
